The present invention relates in general to avionics and, more particularly, to a flight recorder having integral reserve power supply physically disposed within a form factor of the enclosure.
Most commercial and military aircraft, as well as many civilian aircraft, carry flight data recorders (FDRs) or cockpit voice recorders (CVRs). During normal flight operations, the FDR records specific aircraft performance parameters, such as air speed, altitude, vertical acceleration, time, magnetic heading, control-column position, rudder-pedal position, control-wheel position, horizontal stabilizer, and fuel flow. The CVR records cockpit voices and other audio such as conversations between ground control and flight crew. The FDR and CVR have an enclosure containing electronic interface and processing circuits and a crash survivable memory unit (CSMU). The CSMU contains non-volatile memory for storing the flight data and voice data.
In the event of a crash, most of the flight recorder chassis and inner components may be damaged. However, the CSMU is designed to survive the impact, potential ensuing fire, and aftermath of various environmental conditions. For example, under the EUROCAE ED-112 standard, the flight recorder is required to withstand an impact of 3600 g and temperatures up to 1000° C. The data stored on the CSMU should still be recoverable.
Popularly known as the “black box” and regulated by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), these units are crucial in investigating and understanding aircraft accidents. In fact, the recovery of the black box is second only to the recovery of survivors and victims. FDRs can also be used to study air safety issues, material degradation, unsafe flying procedures, and jet engine performance. The outer housing of the flight recorder is painted bright orange for ready identification and generally located in the tail section of the aircraft to maximize survivability.
The flight recorder receives electrical operating power from the main aircraft power bus. In an emergency condition, the main aircraft power bus may be disabled, which could cause loss of critical data in the moments before a crash. Accordingly, an auxiliary power supply is typically used to provide short term operating power for the flight recorder should the main aircraft power bus become disabled. The auxiliary power source is a separate unit which is wired to the flight recorder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,995 discloses this two-unit approach, i.e., CVR and separate auxiliary power supply.
The separate auxiliary power supply associated with prior art flight recorders has certain disadvantages. The FDR and CVR have specific dimensional space requirements imposed by various governing bodies. The separate auxiliary power supply requires additional space well beyond the dimensional specifications of the flight recorder itself. In addition, the two-unit approach (flight recorder and separate auxiliary power supply) increases maintenance, service, and replacement costs.
A need exists for a reserve power supply that does not exceed the dimensional specifications of the flight recorder. In one embodiment, the present invention is a flight recorder comprising an enclosure having a notch. An electronic interface is disposed within the enclosure. The electronic interface is coupled for receiving data. A memory unit is disposed within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the electronic interface for storing the data. A reserve power supply is physically disposed within the notch of the enclosure. The reserve power supply has an electrical connector coupled to the enclosure for providing an operating voltage to the electronic interface and memory unit. The physical dimensions of the reserve power supply and electrical connector are disposed within a form factor of the enclosure.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a data recorder comprising an enclosure and electronic interface disposed within the enclosure. The electronic interface is coupled for receiving data. A memory unit is electrically coupled to the electronic interface for storing the data. A reserve power supply is physically disposed within a form factor of the enclosure. The reserve power supply provides an operating voltage to the electronic interface and memory unit.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an aircraft comprising an airframe and flight recorder mounted to the airframe. The flight recorder includes an enclosure and electronic interface disposed within the enclosure. The electronic interface is coupled for receiving data. The flight recorder further includes a memory unit electrically coupled to the electronic interface for storing the data, and a reserve power supply physically disposed within a form factor of the enclosure. The reserve power supply provides an operating voltage to the electronic interface and memory unit.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of making a data recorder comprising the steps of providing an enclosure having a notch, disposing an electronic interface within the enclosure, disposing a memory unit within the enclosure, electrically connecting the memory unit to the electronic interface, and disposing a reserve power supply physically within the notch of the enclosure. The reserve power supply is coupled for providing an operating voltage to the electronic interface and memory unit.
a-2b show an enclosure for the flight recorder with an integral reserve power supply physically residing within a form factor of the enclosure;
The present invention is described in one or more embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements. While the invention is described in terms of the best mode for achieving the invention's objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents as supported by the following disclosure and drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Further detail of flight recorder 40 is shown in
A recorder independent power supply (RIPS) 46 is a self-contained battery-pack module that is mounted to and physically resides within notch 43 of enclosure 42. RIPS 46 is secured to enclosure 42 by electrical connector 48 and mechanical clamps 54. RIPS 46 provides a reserve operating voltage and electrical power to printed circuit boards (PCB) and electronic components located within enclosure 42 by way of electrical connector 48. RIPS 46 typically uses nickel cadmium (NiCd) or lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries. RIPS 46 is recharged from the aircraft power bus or flight recorder main power supply. RIPS 46 is capable of providing 28 VDC at 12 watts (W) for about 10.5 minutes.
RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48 are integral components of flight recorder 40. The physical dimensions of RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48 are disposed within the generally rectangular form factor of the single enclosure 42. That is, RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48 physically reside within the dimensions of notch 43 and provide flight recorder 40 with reserve operating power without increasing its form factor. In other embodiments, RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48 can be placed inside enclosure 42. In any case, the enclosure 42 of flight recorder 40, including integral RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48, is compliant with the dimensional specifications for flight recorders mandated by governing bodies, e.g., TSO 123b and 124b, EUROCAE ED-112, ARINC 747, and ARINC 757.
Light-emitting underwater locator beacon 50 is mounted to enclosure 42 with clamps 52. Beacon 50 serves to locate and retrieve flight recorder 40 in the event of a crash or other aircraft incident.
Flight recorder 40 includes beacon 50, FDR electronic components 92, CVR electronic components 94, and CSMU 70. Flight recorder 40 may further include an electronic interface for any combination of audio, video, and flight data. The flight information, as well as audio/video data, are processed through the electronic components and stored on CSMU 70 for later analysis in the event of a crash or other significant event. The flight data can also be used to study air safety issues, material degradation, unsafe flying procedures, and jet engine performance.
In one embodiment, flight recorder 40 simultaneously records four separate channels of cockpit audio, converts the audio to a digital format, and stores the data in memory. Flight recorder 40 records two hours of high quality audio from the four cockpit audio inputs: (1) cockpit spare audio input (3rd crew member, public address system), (2) co-pilot's audio, boom, mask, and hand-held microphone input, (3) pilot's audio, boom, mask and hand-held microphone input, and (4) CAM input. The audio inputs are conditioned, amplified, and equalized as necessary. The resulting signals are converted to digital pulse code modulation (PCM) data. Pre-amplification and automatic gain control for interfacing the cockpit area microphone with flight recorder 40 is processed internally, thus eliminating the need for a cockpit control unit. The flight data from aircraft sensors 80 is received, buffered, and stored in CSMU 70, logically separate from the cockpit audio and video data. CSMU 70 has capacity for twenty-five hours of flight data and audio/video data.
In normal operation, power supply 96 receives electric power from aircraft power bus 98 in the form of 28 volts direct current (VDC) or 115 volts alternating current (VAC). Power supply 96 provides normal operating power for FDR electronic components 92, CVR electronic components 94, and CSMU 70. Beacon 50 has its own battery which can last for years upon activation.
In the event that aircraft power bus 98 is disabled or power supply 96 fails, e.g., in the moments prior to a crash, flight recorder 40 initiates a backup operation to update and store data on CSMU 70. The backup process can require up to 10 minutes to complete. RIPS 46 provides the reserve electrical operating power for flight recorder 40 during the backup process.
RIPS 46 is an integral component of flight recorder 40 and requires no special connectors, wiring, space allocation, or other modifications to existing systems to provide the reserve power supply to the flight recorder. RIPS 46 and electrical connector 48 physically reside within the form factor of enclosure 42 and do not require any space beyond the dimensional specifications for flight recorders. RIPS 46 is therefore independent from the main aircraft power source and wiring.
Ground support equipment (GSE) 100 is connected to flight recorder 40 for maintenance, diagnostics, status, and data retrieval from CSMU 70. GSE 100 uses an Ethernet interface or other electronic communication protocol to external equipment such as a computer.
Flight recorder 40 is applicable to fixed wing and rotor aircraft, including commercial jets, military aircraft, drones, ultra-light aircraft, blimps, balloons, and flying wings. Flight recorder 40 can also be adapted to marine transportation systems such as boats, submarines, hovercraft, also spanning to pleasure/recreational, scientific, commercial, land-based vehicles, and space travel.
While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, the skilled artisan will appreciate that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.